a hamas base there. shock results for president erdogan in turkey's local elections the main opposition party claims its largest victory in almost half a century. scotland's new hate crime law comes into force, but could it harm free speech, as its critics claim? and a baby gorilla's search for her surrogate mother — we'll be speaking to the zookeeper taking care of her. and germany partially legalises catalyst. we'll have a special report coming up. they're hello, i'm kylie pentelow. welcome to verified live, three hours breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. let's just update you on that breaking news. we are getting reports from syria that there has been an explosion which appears to have affected the iranian diplomatic mission in damascus. the semi—official iranian

news agency, tasnim, is quoting unnamed sources, saying that five people were killed in the consulate building. they claim the blast was the result of an israel air strike. other iranian media outlets say the building was completely destroyed. several diplomats are said to have been killed. we've just received these pictures from damascus, showing a damaged building, with what appears to be an iranian flag in front of it, and another on top of the building. it's not known who was in the building at the time, but there are reports that some senior iranian military figures may have been affected. we are checking those reports. israel hasn't commented on the incident. syria's foreign ministry has said it is sure that israel was behind an attack, and has condemned the incident. much as remind you of that, we are getting reports from syria that

there has been an explosion. it appears to have affected the iranian diplomatic mission in the capital damascus. we are hearing from the semi—official iranian news agency that five people were killed in the consulate building. for more on this, let'sjoin our consulate building. for more on this, let's join our correspondent injerusalem, hugo bachega. can you tell us what were you know? 50. in jerusalem, hugo bachega. can you tell us what were you know?- tell us what were you know? so, we are following _ tell us what were you know? so, we are following these _ tell us what were you know? so, we are following these details - tell us what were you know? so, we | are following these details emerging from damascus. state media in iran said they expected and israeli strike has destroyed this consulate building. and we are now getting reports of deaths and injuries after this alleged attack. but again,

details are still coming in. there haven't been any kind of —— there hasn't been any kind of reaction from the israeli authorities, and the reuters agency is saying that a senior commander in the iranian revolutionary guards has been killed. again, details are still coming in. we don't have confirmation yet about those details, but it seems that it was a massive attack that happened in damascus. apparently targeting a very important figure inside the powerful iranian revolutionary guards. powerful iranian revolutionary . uards. ., powerful iranian revolutionary auards. ., ~ ., , guards. hugo, i know you be verifying _ guards. hugo, i know you be verifying that _ guards. hugo, i know you be verifying that information. i guards. hugo, i know you be i verifying that information. will come back to throughout the next hour. hugo bachega injerusalem, thank you. let's move on to gaza. after two weeks of heavy

bombardment, israel says it has completed its military operation in and around the biggest hospital there and all troops have left the area. during the operation at al—shifa hospital here in northern gaza, the idf says it killed several militant commanders and insisted it was "preventing harm" to civilians. hamas officials say dozens of bodies have been found at the complex. our middle east correspondent yolande knell reports. left in ruins. this was once the beating heart of gaza's health care system, but israel says that it had become a terrorist base. two weeks ago, its troops returned to al—shifa hospital for a second time — launching a surprise attack. they say they shot dead 200 palestinian gunmen and arrested top hamas figures without harming civilians. palestinians say many innocents were hurt and killed. translation: there are so many bodies here. - we've been getting them out ever since this morning. it's shocking. we've never seen anything like it. the fierce fighting entered al—shifa's wards and razed homes nearby. israel's military sees this as one

of its most successful operations of the war so far, dealing the enemy a major blow. but critics say it's also a worrying sign of the ability of hamas to regroup in areas that israel previously conquered, and it shows the need for a convincing postwar strategy. questions over how this war is being waged are now bringing israelis back onto the streets. after the deadly 7th of october attacks, months of mass anti—government demonstrations abruptly stopped in a show of national unity. now, israel's political divisions are back on full display. police turning skunk water on people blocking this main road. protesters accuse the prime minister of putting his own political survival before a deal to bring home the hostages held by hamas. he denies it. translation: the calls for elections

now in the middle of the war, - just before the victory, will paralyse israel for at least six months — eight months, in my estimation. they will paralyse the negotiations for the release of our hostages that will bring the war to an end before the completion of its objectives, and the first to bless it will be hamas — and that says everything. back at al—shifa hospital, palestinians take in the latest destruction. the battle here is now over, but an end to israel's longest and bloodiest ever war in gaza still looks a long way off. a little bit earlier, i spoke to the director of communications about situation in gaza. it has been six months and it feels a bit like it is on repeat, except that it's real life with real people, hospitals turning into death stones,

children emaciated, dying by the day hospitals turning into death zones, children emaciated, dying by the day from malnutrition, and a lack of water. we're talking really about the basics and have a nation we're talking really about the basics and half a nation is on the verge of famine, so much more needs to be done if we would like to avert the situation. is there any movement on that it situation? not much. the most significant is the order from the international court ofjustice from a few days ago that asked for the facilitation of humanitarian system scratch make assistance into gaza, including the north. including four children to northern gaza. including for children to northern gaza. that must change other ways of delivering aid to gas are

that must change and more ways of delivering aid to gas are lethal and quite dangerous, although the safest and fastest, most efficient way, cheaper way is to give assistance via the road to the united nations, including two unwra. let's move to turkey now. let's move to turkey now, where president erdogan's governing party has suffered its biggest defeat in local elections. the main opposition party, the chp, won in the six largest urban centres, including istanbul. mr erdogan has promised to respect the decision of the nation. before the election, he said that this would be the last time he led his party into municipal elections. his term as president is due to end in 2028. in the last general election, nine months ago, president erdogan's party narrowly retained power, but it seems his support is starting to wane. the main opposition chp retained control of ankara, istanbul, izmir, adana and antalya, and won control in

bursa and balikesir. among the key reasons perhaps — turkey's stubbornly high rate of inflation, which stood, according to some measurements, at an annual rate of 67% in february. this latest result would seem to strengthen the position of the chp. he won the city with more than 50% of the vote and told his supporters that the outcomes of google to very important message to the world. translation: we important message to the world. translation:— important message to the world. translation: ~ ., , , , . translation: we will not disrespect the decision anyway. _ translation: we will not disrespect the decision anyway. we _ translation: we will not disrespect the decision anyway. we will - translation: we will not disrespect the decision anyway. we will avoid i the decision anyway. we will avoid being _ the decision anyway. we will avoid being stubborn, acting against the national_ being stubborn, acting against the national will and the judgment of our nation, as we have done so far. we will_ our nation, as we have done so far. we will take — our nation, as we have done so far. we will take the necessary steps by analysing _ we will take the necessary steps by analysing the messages given by the nation _ analysing the messages given by the nation at _ analysing the messages given by the nation at the ballot box. most accurately within the reason an

inner— accurately within the reason an inner conscience. the accurately within the reason an inner conscience.— accurately within the reason an inner conscience. the bbc turkish service gave _ inner conscience. the bbc turkish service gave us — inner conscience. the bbc turkish service gave us the _ inner conscience. the bbc turkish service gave us the latest - inner conscience. the bbc turkish service gave us the latest from i service gave us the latest from istanbul. translation: democracies were weakening _ istanbul. translation: democracies were weakening and _ istanbul. translation: democracies were weakening and authoritarian - were weakening and authoritarian regimes came to power. many articles around the world asked if we were coming at the end of democratic regimes. the 31st of march 2024 is the day when democratic erosion in turkey ended and democracy is rising again. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

let's bring you an update on the breaking story that we had heard of the hour. reports from syria that

there has been explosion which has appeared to have affected the iranian double medic mission in damascus. reports suggested a senior figure was in the building in damascus and is among those killed. according to the reuters news agency, he is understood to be the palestinian division of the r igc and it appears that he is among those killed. just update you that the... that was the blast in the iranian diplomatic mission in damascus. sources saying that five people were killed in the consulate building and they're claiming the blast, they are... tasnim is claiming that the blast is a result of an israeli air strike. iranian state media said several diplomats

are killed and we heard from reuters that among those is understood to be raza said he d. we are hearing that he is one of those killed, a seniorfigure in the iranian revolutionary. we will bring you the latest from our correspondent as soon as we have it. let's move on. a new and controversial hate crime law has come into effect in scotland. the law creates a new offence of stirring up hatred in relation to personal characteristics including age, disability, religion and sexual orientation. the scottish government says it will protect minority groups from prejudice and hatred. but critics argue it will undermine freedom of speech, and police fear the legislation could be weaponised for political purposes. let's speak to leading scottish barrister, thomas ross. what's your take on this? are you

fearful that this could lead to numerous complaints coming into the police, particularly against social media posts and may lead to people afraid to speak out what they think to speak their minds and limit freedom of speech quiz ? i think it could easily lead to multile ? i think it could easily lead to multiple complaints _ ? i think it could easily lead to multiple complaints because l ? i think it could easily lead to - multiple complaints because there has been quite a lot of misinformation as to what the act actually does. i don't think actually does. i don't think actually there are many prosecutions under the act or very many people can convicted. but there is a danger that there's been so much disinformation that people might use it to make complaints about people having some sort of vendetta with. do you think that there is a caveat in the bill that talks about an

ability, are a right to offend or disturb? you think that covers it? it's pretty difficult to understand the legislation, because on one hand,it the legislation, because on one hand, it creates a stirring up a fence. i should say so far as stirring up racial hatred, we've had offence in scotland since the act of 1965, and in the almost 60 years that followed, unaware of a single prosecution in scotland. as i say, it's prosecution in scotland. as i say, its extended it, but there are other characteristics beyond race and there may be more complaints in relation... but the section you're referring to which refers to the right to discuss issues certainly won't get anyjudges right to discuss issues certainly won't get any judges faced right to discuss issues certainly won't get anyjudges faced with these prosecutions... a difficult balancing exercise. on the one hand, somebody else might comment in

relation to a particular characteristic. to relation to a particular characteristic.- relation to a particular characteristic. ., ., , characteristic. to read between the lines, it seems _ characteristic. to read between the lines, it seems like _ characteristic. to read between the lines, it seems like you're - characteristic. to read between the lines, it seems like you're thinking | lines, it seems like you're thinking it's a little confusing, this. it’s it's a little confusing, this. it's extremely _ it's a little confusing, this. it�*s extremely confusing, and one of the reasons i don't see many prosecutions for it is that it is so confusing. most of the conduct which presumably is being attacked by this legislation already amounts to an offence in scotland. we have a variety of other offences which we cover — threatening or abusive behaviour and i think any prosecutor is likely to bring an easier path. good to talk to you, thomas ross. thank you very much. people in germany can legally smoke cannabis

in public. partial decriminalisation all his decades of debate. the rules on medical marijuana are being relaxed. our berlin correspondentjessica parker reports. # three little birds pitch by my doorstep, singing sweet songs...# it's out in the open. adults in germany can now possess up to 25 grams of cannabis in public — enough to make dozens ofjoints — and grow up to three plants at home. while people like marcel are planning newly—permitted cannabis social clubs. while people like marcel are planning newly—permitted cannabis social clubs. not for tourists, though — just german residents. every gram from cannabis which goes from the cannabis social club is one is one gram that's not on the black market. what do you say to people who say, look, cannabis is addictive and it is harmful, especially to young people?

everything has dark sides. and you have to know about the dark sides and only when it's not illegal, you can freely talk about these dark sides. but these cannabis clubs in cities like dresden won't pop up overnight, and come with their own rules — exacerbating fears that demand will quickly outstrip legal supply. translation: we assume that the black market - will be strengthened, particularly at the beginning in the chaos phase, when demand would be great because of the signal this law sends. the black market and criminal networks will adapt and they will also infiltrate the social clubs. grower, who are also seeing some deregulation. into the highly secure halls of a medical cannabis grower, who are also seeing some deregulation. cannabis will not be a narcotic any more in germany. - it will be just as any other pharmaceutical product, i which makes it much more easierl for patients to get it from a doctor and to get it from the pharmacy.

they keep this room at around 23 degrees, but it's also really quite humid. now, there are 650—ish plants in this room and they are almost and the psychoactive substance is... the benefits of medical cannabis are debated, while the relaxation around recreational use has been contentious. this is an argument in germany that likely hasn't yet reached full maturity. jessica parker, bbc news, in dresden. earlier, i spoke to peter wilke from politico. yes, this law, the decriminalisation of cannabis has been really the controversial here in germany. polls show that more than half of germans don't like this decriminalisation, they oppose it, and they argue against it. so it's seen really critical.

on the other side, there are also many for this decriminalisation because they think this in the end could curb the black market that polls from the last decade show that consumption of cannabis has doubled in the last people, especially a young people. are there restrictions on it, like whether you can drive after using cannabis? yes. what i can tell you, many things are unclear, that is part of it. it's still unclear how many thc parts one can have in their blood, the transport ministry is working on the sand in your limit, the transport ministry is working on the sand in your limit. so, right now, we are still working with the old limit, which means drivers right now probably can't consume cannabis at all, but the transport agency is working on new limits, so they haven't done this already. and there are other things that are still unclear, especially in the defence ministry,

within the army, discussions going on if soldier should be allowed to consume cannabis or not. they have been sent letters around the army saying soldiers should also not be allowed to consume cannabis of duty. and moreover, it is unclear if you can consume cannabis in restaurants, there are restaurants where you are allowed to smoke, but will you be able to smoke cannabis there? in the end, that's the decision of the restaurant owners, but they have to make it clear on their own, and it's all not clear right now, so there could be some interesting situations in restaurants, for example, coming up in the next weeks. speaking to me earlier. how about this? a burial crypt next the resting place of marilyn monroe has sold for $195,000. the buyer said he had always dreamt of being next to the hollywood star. a pink

gown that was bought for $325,000 was also sold. singer billy i has criticised musicians releasing multiple versions of... vinyl. —— billie eilish. she didn't call out any artist by name, but at least for three variants were released. —— 43. fans who preordered beyonce's album on vinyl are reporting five tracks have gone missing. earlier, we spoke to the deputy music editor at the guard in the about the huge resurgence in vinyl.- guard in the about the huge resurgence in vinyl. there was a rise to five-point _ i think last year there was an 11.7% rise in vinyl sales in the uk

to 5.9 million units, which is compared to a 2.9% rise in 2022. so it's massively on the up. i think at one point the vinyl revival, as it's called, was associated with more indie artists, but in recent years, it's definitely pop stars who have been leading the charge, especially because they've been releasing multiple vinyl variants of their records, as with taylor swift, as you said. with billie eilish, i would say specifically, she uses recycled materials in her vinyl, which is what makes it different, and she only puts out black versions as opposed to coloured ones, which i think you can't use recycled materials. the rolling stones, i think those 43 versions, that's perhaps slightly different from something like taylor swift, because i think they did something where they they themed the covers around sports teams or something like that. and i think it's unlikely that somebody would buy all of those records cos they have ultimately just got different covers on them. whereas somebody like taylor swift with her new album and also with midnight, so her 2022 album, she likes to release vinyl editions, which each come with one different bonus track. so, if you want to get all of the bonus tracks and, you know, you're a big fan and you want to hear them four versions of the same record, and people do certainly do that.

you know, with her album midnights, all four versions on the back of them, each one of them depicted a different quarter of a clock face, and she also sold a clock mechanism so that if you bought all four and put them together, you could have a taylor swift clock. who wouldn't want a taylor swift clock, eh? next you need an "egg—cellent" aim for this challenge. residents of the german town of horhausen have taken part in their annual easter egg throwing challenge. they have to chuck the brightly coloured hard boiled eggs as far as they can. the record stands at 73 metres. any egg that doesn't survive a hard landing is used as bird feed. there he goes. decent throw. easter festivities have it finished just yet. easter festivities haven't finished just yet — it's time for the 144th annual white house easter egg roll. a tradition that's lasted since the 1870's — children push brightly coloured hard boiled eggs across the white house south lawn with wooden spoons. this year's theme is egg—ucation— with the lawn transformed into a school community full of fun. this will be president biden's and first ladyjill biden's

third time hosting easter festivities. approximately 40,000 visitors are expected, and 64,000 eggs rolled, hunted and eaten. it's all, jill biden saying, her education of children. let's give you an update on the top story that we have been discussing in the last hour. those reports from syria that there has been an explosion which appears to have affected the iranian diplomatic mission in damascus. the reuters news agency is saying that, suggesting a senior figure reuters news agency is saying that, suggesting a seniorfigure in reuters news agency is saying that, suggesting a senior figure in the revolution was in the building. we'll bring you the latest on that within the next hour. hello there. will not keep those colder northeasterly windows in scotland.

bringing milder conditions, but that's where all the wet weather is going to be coming in from. this easter monday afternoon, probably making 15 degrees across east anglia. quite a bit chillier than that under the rain in northern england and southern scotland. that rain is continuing to move northwards this evening. the showers that follow do tend to decay and fade away, but we'll keep showers running eastwards. that rain in northern england and northern ireland pushes further north into scotland. the lowest temperatures tonight are likely to be as the cloud breaks up in the northeast of england. we still have some patchy rain into tomorrow and scotland. it's particularly in the northeast of scotland. early showers will be followed by some sunny spells in the southeast, and cloud building up, showers developing and we'll see some further rain coming into the southwest. temperatures more widely going to reach 14 or 15 degrees through the midlands and eastern parts of england with sunshine on the showers, but quite a bit

chillier than that in the stronger winds. we've got rain in the southwest during the afternoon. that's pushing northwards on tuesday night, and this area of low pressure will be sitting over the uk on wednesday, keeping it very unsettled. showers or longer spells of rain moving northwards. southern parts of england and wales probably turning drier with more sunshine. that will give the temperatures a bit of a boost. only 7 or 8 degrees with the cold northeasterly winds. this is the jet stream pattern, this is thejet stream pattern, this is going to be maintained over the few days. then sliding them up to the south with these waterfronts bringing these spells of the rain. we got some wet weather to begin with, another band of rain moves northwards, followed by some showers, and then we see further longer spells of rain arriving in southern parts of england and wales

during thursday afternoon. milder for england and wales, cold in the wind, and the north and east of scotland.

this is bbc news, the headlines reports in the rancid just a senior official is killed after the

explosion in the syrian capital, damascus. the home office reports a sharp rise in migrants crossing the channel in small boats — as labour slams the government's plan to �*stop the boats'. a lower energy price cap comes into force, taking bills in england, wales and scotland to their lowest level in two years. medical students take their skills into primary schools to show children how to do basic first aid — using teddy bears. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's jane dougall: hello. leicester are back at the top of the championship for the time being after a 3—1win over norwich at the king power stadium. leciester had been on a dreadful run, with just one league win in six before today. and it looked as though that would continue, norwich leading through gabriel sara inside 20 minutes. but kiernan dewsbury—hall equalised before half time and leicester turned it around after the break.